Want to know how to travel in style, just like the pros? We check in with frequent fliers to find out how often they fly, their favorite destinations and what they never leave home without.
Name: Tony Biggs
Occupation: Hospitality Management /Director of Culinary Arts Certified Angus Beef
Hometown: Cohasset Mass
Residence: Wooster Ohio
College: Culinary Institute of America
College major: Culinary Arts
Website: cheftonybiggs.com
Twitter: @cheftonybiggs
Facebook: Tony Biggs
Instagram: cheftonybiggs
Short bio: Chef Tony Biggs has not only traveled to many counties, he has worked and lived with different cultures. Traveling the globe in search for his favorite foods. He was private chef to King Abdullah and Queen Rania, he managed the Imelda Marcos Fort Ilocandia in the Philippines and has hosted the Sultan of Brunei at the famed Sutera Harbor Hotel in Kota Kinabalu Malaysia. He now is Director of Culinary arts at Certified Angus Beef brand traveling the globe teaching folks how to eat beef. He is currently writing his memoirs on his legendary travel experiences.
How often do you fly? 40 times a year domestically/6 international trips.
How many countries have you been to? 21
How many continents have you been to? 5
Earliest travel memory: Quebec, Canada.
Favorite American city: Boston.
Favorite international city: Tokyo.
Least favorite country: Saudi Arabia.
Friendliest people in the world: Philippines.
Country with the meanest immigration officers: Thailand.
Favorite World Heritage Site: Petra.
Favorite airline: Philippine Airlines.
Favorite aircraft type: 747.
Aisle or window: Window.
Favorite airport lounge: Hong Kong Pub.
Favorite U.S. airport: Charlotte.
Favorite international airport: Hong Kong.
Favorite hotel: Shangri-La Kota Kinabalu Malaysia.
Favorite cruise line: Norwegian Cruise Lines.
Favorite travel credit card: American Express.
Favorite island: Palawan, Philippines.
Favorite beach: Boracay, Philippines.
Favorite fancy restaurant: Sushi Bar at Tsukiji fish market Japan.
Favorite hole-in-the-wall: Vinny Van Go Go’s Pizza, Savannah, Georgia.
Favorite bar: The Carousal Bar New Orleans (Hotel Montelone).
Favorite fruit: Leche/blueberries-mangosteins-bananas.
Favorite food: Sushi-Thai-beef-Italian-pizza-Chinese-Arabic.
Least favorite food: Chinese cold platter that consists of unidentifiable objects.
Drink of choice (in the air and on the ground): White wine.
Favorite travel movie(s): Indiana Jones in Petra, Lost in Translation, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, The Witches of Eastwick.
Favorite travel show(s): Anthony Bourdain CNN.
Favorite travel book(s): National Geographic.
Right now I am reading: “The Pro Chef 4.”
Top 3 favorite travel newsletters/magazines/blogs: Not any favorite.
Favorite travel website(s)—besides JohnnyJet.com, of course! Facebook.
5 things you bring on a plane: Cell phone, snacks, head rest, earplugs, water.
What do you always seem to forget? Shaving cream, sunscreen.
What do you like least about travel? The jetlag.
What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport Duty Free store? Red wine.
Favorite travel app(s): Starbucks.
Most embarrassing travel moment: Did not have a visa entering China. They asked me to leave the country, but luckily we worked things out.
What’s your dream destination? Himalayas.
Favorite travel charity: Second Harvest Food Bank.
Best travel tip: Do anything to avoid jetlag/pack light.
